Blera badia
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Blera badia, the Common Wood Fly, is a common species of syrphid fly first officially described by Walker in 1849. Hoverflies get their names from the ability to remain nearly motionless while in flight. The adults are also known as flower flies, for they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae are of the rat-tailed type, feeding on exuding sap or in the rot holes of trees.
External map This is a nearctic species that is widely distributed in Eastern and Central North America. For terms, see Morphology of Diptera. External images Size 10 to 11 mm Head The frontal triangle is black, shining, with dust near the orbits. The face is yellowish white and thickly covered with silvery dust. There is a medial shining black stripe (vitta) from just below the antennae to the oral cavity. The gena is shining black from near the eye to the oral opening. The antennae are black, with the flagellum more brow and a brown arista. The occiput is black, with whitish pile and thickly covered with grayish dust.
Thorax The thorax and postpronotum are greenish-black, shining, with rather... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wood Fly sighting in Toronto on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1005th most-seen of the 1689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Wood Fly in Toronto on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Wood Fly sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Common Wood Fly sightings, Toronto has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Washington (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Syrphidae
The closest relatives of the Common Wood Fly that you can see in Toronto (family Syrphidae, Hover Flies) are Eastern Calligrapher (about 10%), Margined Calligrapher (about 10%) and Transverse-Banded Flower Fly (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Wood Fly is recorded against all the insects logged in Toronto (12 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
